Electric-wire molding



(No Model.)

J. A. SEELY.

ELECTRIC WIRE MOLDING.

No. 423,449. Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

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N. PETERS Pnmounm n hw. Wahiogtm. D, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. SEELY, OF BROKLYN, NEW YORK.

- ELECTRIC-WIRE MOLDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,449, dated March 18, 1890.

Application filed October 30, 1889. Serial No. 328 ,696. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. SEELY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-VVire Moldings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the molding used to shield and carry electric wires placed in buildings. Hitherto this molding has been made in lengths of wood. When completed, it consisted of two strips-a base provided with grooves in which the wires were laid and a cap which is securedto the face of the basepiece to hold the wires in place. The cap is usually 'made more or less ornamental.

My invention consists of a flexible molding made in any length desired, and preferably of water-proof material. The wires are securely placed in the strip during its fabrication. The molding is therefore in one piece,

there being no necessity for a capping.

The invention further embraces a novel joint block or section, the details of which will be found in the following description.

Referring to the drawings, Figu re 1 is a perspective view of a piece of the molding complete. Fig. 2 is a face view of the molding and a joint-block for turning corners. Fig. 3 is a section of the block, taken on line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a view of a reel 011 which the molding isstored and transported.

The molding, as shown, consists of a single strip of material A. It may be formed in any manner and of any material desired, so long as it possesses the qualityof flexibility. I suggest that it be made of finely-divided asbestus and cork mixed with rubber cement and molded into shape. This material, besides being flexible, is practically water-proof, and therefore possesses that advantage over the ordinary wooden molding.

In the process of manufacture I embed the electric wires (usually two, although I do not limit myself to the number). in the strip. These wires may be insulated or not; but for the greatest security it will probably be best to embed the wires as ordinarily insulated. To form a good foundation and to add to the tensile strength of the molding, I may back it with canvas, as shown at a. This will be secured in place by a cement or otherwise during the process of manufacture. The face of the molding may be ornamented with beads or other configurations, at pleasure, and coloring-matter maybe added to the mixture of which the molding is composed to give it the appearance of wood or to harmonize with the color of the trim in the building. The best results are obtained when the molding possesses flexibility with little or no elas-' ticity, as it will then hug the surface against which it is placed, and will follow an uneven surface more accurately. The strips may or may not be formed at intervals with holes for fastening-screws c. If the holes are notalready formed in the strip they may be easily punched in when the molding is put up.

Ordinarily the molding will be stored and handled on reels, as illustrated, that being a compact and convenient way. In putting it up the only operation is to secure it against the wall or other surface by screws. I therefore reduce to a considerable extent the work,

of wiring, which heretofore consisted in,first, securing the base-piece by screws; second, stringing the wires in the grooves and securing them by tacks, and, third, fastening in place the cap. It will be observed that in dispensing with the tacking of the wire I obviate the liability of damaging its insulation, and also that there can be but little waste, as the molding isa continuous strip and may be severed at just the places required. more, it is not necessary that there should be any joints in running a straight line of the molding, except when the material becomes exhausted.

For coupling sections or turning corners I propose to use straight or angle blocks 0. These will preferably be made of porcelain or similar material, but may be made of the same material as the strip. Each block will be formed of a grooved base-piece c and a cap of material similar to the strip. In the grooves I place permanent conductors 0 which run from end to end between bindingposts 0 -With these binding-posts at each end are connected the projecting wires a, as shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose a portion of the abutting end of the molding may be removed to expose the wire, and then, after skinning the wires, they are attached to the respective binding posts. The angle- Furtherblocks are secured by screws, and the cap of the same ina similar manner.

It is obvious that if it is desirable the flexible molding may be constructed without the wires in place, and the wires threaded through holes left for the purpose or the molding may be made in two parts, as is ordinarily done, in which case the only advantage it would possess over the ordinary is that of flexible and water-proof qualities.

Having thus described my invention, 1' claim- 1. An article of manufacture consisting of a flexible and non-elastic molding in which are embedded one or more electric wires.

2. A flexible electric-wire molding having abacking of canvas or similar fabric.

3. An electric-wire moldingmade of finelydivided asbestus and cork mixed together with a suit-able adherent.

4. A coupling or block for joints and turns 1n electric-wire moldings, consisting of a short my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. SEELY.

Witnesses: WM. A. RosENBAUM, THos. K. TRENCHARD. 

